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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bowl · nail · fan · ball · mug · lash · fine · trunk

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. fine — high quality
  3. mug — a cup
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. ball — a dance
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. mug — a face
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. ball — a great time
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. fine — all right
  24. mug — to rob

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com